Hundred year old ulong

You need not venture far if you seek a one-of-a-kind spa experience steeped in Filipino traditions and culture. Nestled in a 2.6 square meter property in Pulong Sagingan is a rustic little village of native wooden huts called the Nurture Spa Village, considered  one of the pioneers in bringing worldwide attention to our very own hilot, the Filipino ancient art of healing massage.

Inside the ulong

 When Catherine Brillantes-Turvill decided to put up Nurture Spa in 2002, she had in mind a spa that that would draw from our own heritage. After researching into the healing traditions of our forebears she bought four authentic hundred-year-old ulogs, native Ifugao huts from the Mountain Province , knocked them down and re-built them piece by piece in Tagaytay.  From those initial four huts, they spa now has 14 accommodations – the four naturally-ventilated Ifugao huts, six couple rooms and two family rooms.  All are sprawled within the confines of a lovely flowering garden on a sloping hill with stone paths that lead surreptiously  to various parts of the property – among them, a wellness center  for long-stay guests called the Kanlungan, four outdoor treatment rooms, an herb garden and a healing path called the Lakad Kagalingan (reflexology stone path).

Asian fusion cuisine may be enjoyed inside air-conditioned Dulang Bistro restaurant while seated cross-legged on embroidered pillows or at the trellised garden studded with creeping vines and mini ponds made of talyasi and ancient banga with small kois and floating water lilies in them. An array of healthy dishes with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options uses only the freshest ingredients sourced from around Tagaytay. A must- try is the Nurture Salad that has fresh greens, kesong puti and oriental dressing, and the Osso Buco, beef shank served Batangas kaldereta style, washed down with a healthful drink of carrot pineapple juice. A pavilion at the west side of the property can accommodate 150 persons, perfect  for team buildings and corporate functions, while the garden can be made to accommodate 200-250 guests for a truly romantic garden wedding.

Lakad Kagalingan

Nurture Spa receives overnight guests who want to relax and unwind for the weekend or walk- in guests who may want to experience the embrace of a truly Filipino spa experience for an hour or two.  Treatments start and end with a relaxing hot ginger tea locally known as salabat. An ancient feet bathing ritual called Banos (meaning “a bath”) is performed as well where feet is soaked with warm water steeped in healing herbs to promote blood circulation and remove pain or fatigue. Then, as you lie back to enjoy the soothing massage, a music ritual using a Palawan rain flute is performed.

 Sinaunang Lunas, the spa’s range of ancient cures offers the traditional Philippine provincial Hilot Kagalingan usually done to cure cold, sprain, fever and relieve fatigue.  If you have back pain and colds that won’t go away, you are likely to have lamig, excess air, that stays inside the muscle and causes body pain.  The spa has two kinds of hot massages therapies to alleviate this condition. Lunas ni Nanay is a ventosa massage performed by placing a glass in specific accupoints on the back to create a vacuum and suck out the lamig. The Filipino version of the hot stone massage called Nilaib uses steamed hot pouches of Filipino herbs wrapped in banana leaves placed on the back and on the hands and feet.  The Dagdagay foot massage is also offered at the spa. This is an authentic tribal massage using herbal clay to cleanse and purify the feet, using bamboo sticks to stimulate the soles.  Armie, one of the therapists, says our forbears practiced this unique kind of reflexology since massaging their bare feet, with soles thick from not wearing footwear and being exposed to the elements, can be difficult. It was also unhygienic to massage feet with the hands.

 Since Nurture Spa is surrounded by coffee plantations, it specializes in the aromatic Kape Barako coffee scrub. Other scrubs available are Aliwalas Dead Sea Scrub, The Halimuyak Rose Petal body polish and Mayumi Coconut body polish. Body wraps include the Manggang Yakap (mango), Sarap ng Papaya (ripe papaya) and Hilom (healing) Dead Sea Mud Wrap. Facials available are the Maharlika Lavender (lavender scrub and mud mask), the Makisig Gentleman’s Facial (green clay mask) or the Marikit (honey and lavender scrub with protein mask). The hair also gets special care and attention with the Kaaya-Ayang  Buhok treatments that include Hasmin Royal Hair Spa (jasmine oil and extra virgin coco oil) or the Sabila Hair Luster (aloe vera).  

meditation nooks

The spa assures guests a garden enclave of solitude where meditation nooks are situated on various areas of the property – in the verandas of the garden houses or in open spa treatment areas. Visitors are requested to keep their voices down or maintain silence by signs posted all over the property. Quaint tent structures decorated with white flowing fabric, massage chairs made of native kamagong hardwood and footbaths are used for outdoor treatments. There, you can enjoy a relaxing foot spa with massage (Hele) or the combo hand and foot massage they call Pawi. To relieve sore neck and back muscles, opt for the Iglipang Ginhawa.

Nurture Spa, known for its signature “floral” strokes, uses only freshly prepared natural ingredients.  An excellent pre-treatment to these massages is the suob, where guests are made to inhale healing unguents to open the skin pores and remove toxins. Their massage menu includes the Kambal Kamay, or four hands touch. Also popular are the Aruga (care) massage, Haplos ng Ayurveda, or the Magsing-Iirog lovers massage for couples. Combinations of several of the packages (wraps, scrubs, facials, foot spas) are available such as their Maharlikang Lubos which can range from two to three hours. 

 Catherine’s husband and business partner Dr. Mike Turvill, a British national and a chemist, created the Amuin product line, a range of aromatherapy and massage oils used at the spa. Amuin is a Filipino term for “caress” or “to tame”. Their lemongrass oil is sourced from Mambugsay, Negros . This, along with other native products such as gift bags and boxes made of Abel fabric from Bangar, La Union, and Bulua ceramic cups from Cagayan de Oro, is sold at the spa’s curio shop.

 Long-stay guests (2 days/1 night minimum) at the Institute of Natural Healing (INH), headed by Dr. Samuel Dizon, a doctor of natural and alternative medicine, can avail of the Joyful Health Packages. Among the treatments being offered in this range are the Glowing Beauty, an anti-aging program that includes facial treatment using Biodroga products and Algotherm products for the contouring body wrap. Weight loss and total detox coupled with holistic healing methods, planned menus, computerized health scan, Qi breathing exercises, acupuncture and colonic enema are likewise offered to aid in serious ailments such as kidney, and liver malfunction, hypertension and even cancer.

The INH Wellness Center

Last  June, Nurture Spa will start expansion of the INH building, include more services and promote it as a medi spa. A condotel with 50 rooms will be built at the adjacent lot and the forest trails to the banana and coffee plantations will be cleared for guests to enjoy guided eco-tours.

 Overnight billeting is recommended to make the most of the relaxing visit to Nurture Spa and weekdays, from Tuesday to Thursday, are the best time to visit. The more adventurous may opt for the ulog accommodation, with the cacophony of night sounds and the gentle rush of an artificial waterfalls lulling one to sleep.  By day or night, the cold Tagaytay air and charming gardens of Nurture Spa puts one in a contemplative mood. There, you are safely cocooned in your own private space, embraced in the warmth of the Filipino’s healing touch and hospitality.

Getting there: By private car, Nurture Spa is 45 minutes from Makati via SLEX. Take Sta. Rosa exit then turn right following the main road to Tagaytay. Turn right to the small road going to the subdivision of Pulong Sagingan and follow the signs leading to Nurture Spa.  Weekday discount of 10% may be availed from Monday-Thursday on all treatments (complimentary snacks included). Ifugao rooms are at Php 3,500, garden view room at Php 4,500 and forest view rooms are at Php 5,500; all have toilets and bath, and LCD television. Wifi access in the pavilion, reception  and restaurant. Reservations may be made directly at Nurture Spa through sales manager Noel Tindogan at tel. nos. (63 46) 483-0805, mobile (63 920) 950-5724 and (63 918) 888-8772.

Crimson Resort and Spa is an exclusive piece of paradise just 15 minutes away from Mactan’s airport. On this sprawling six-hectare resort facing the Olango Island sanctuary and Hilutungan Channel is a tropical escape of 250 suites and 40 villas, 38 of them outfitted with private plunge pools, set in the Asian contemporary style. There are not one or two but four theme restaurants—Saffron (Asian), Azure Pool Bar (tapas), Tempo Music Lounge (canapes) and Score Sports Bar (Western)—in this private luxury enclave and the 1,000-square meter Coral Ballroom, fit for a king’s banquet. No wonder the resort is a favorite for weddings and big parties and events.

 Being Filinvest Land ’s first foray into the hotel and hospitality industry, nothing was left to chance. No less than architectural and interior design firm Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo (WATG) from California was tapped to masterplan the resort. Landscape architecture is by Belt Collins from Hong Kong , which created a garden atmosphere reminiscent of Balinese-inspired resorts. The result is understated elegance with subdued cream walls and dark wood paneling in its interiors, enhanced by accents of wood, stone and woven natural Philippine fibers, and exteriors that echo a lush tropical paradise.

 The resort devotes 2,000 square meters to its Aum Spa and Wellness Center , housed in a separate structure, a short walk or a golf cart ride from the main resort. The spa derives its name from the word om, a Hindu sacred sound spoken in the beginning and the end of prayers and meditations. Considered as the greatest of all mantras, it also used in the practice of yoga and is related to techniques of auditory meditation. The very act saying “om” or “aum” leads one to a heightened sense of awareness of one’s place in the universe.  It is with this philosophy that resort spa consultant Karen Villarica of Mandala Spa conceptualized a spa that would provide guests a place of peace and serenity, where you find your own center and work towards “holding everything together.” With the fast-paced lifestyle we are leading, searching and finding that place is priceless indeed.

 Tucked away in its private place, the spa’s entrance welcomes you with a nurturing embrace the moment you set foot at the cavernous reception area. Croissant-shaped Kenneth Cobonpue loungers neatly arranged against a spirit wall invite you to take a seat and enjoy the soothing sound of water gushing from the mini falls located on the sides of the receiving area.

 After perusing the spa’s menu of treatments and given a choice between a one-hour or a two-hour massage (I settled for the one-hour massage), spa manager Melissa Montesclaro gave me a short tour of the spa while my assigned therapist prepared the treatment room.

 Aum Spa has 14 rooms. Massages may be arranged in the comfort of the rooms or in one of the open pavilions. You pass by a series of European-inspired stone-cast fountainheads spewing out water that gently flow into one horizontal pool before you find one of the spacious Balinese-inspired open pavilions. Modern clean lines, indigenous materials like grass for the roofing and the muted earth tones of the stone floor make the room a relaxing place for treatments. Tastefully appointed with two massage beds; a huge, immaculately clean bathtub; and a pocket garden of bamboo and tropical plants, the rooms provide a Zen experience.

 Montesclaro said the wellness center offers the Aum Half Day Spa Experience in which, for a full four hours, guests are treated to a day of pampering in one of the open spa villas. Stress-reducing treatments come in fanciful names such as Tropical Getaway, Aum Luxury Escape and Ultimate Retreat, which include a welcome foot ritual and water therapy sessions at the spa pool.

 For the weary traveler, recommended treatments under the Spa Journeys menu are the Tranquility, Rejuvenation, Renewal and Jet Lag packages. Those pressed for time can avail of the Aum Express Relief, 45-minute massage therapy for the head, neck, back and shoulders using herbal-infused hot compresses placed on the back and foot.

Deluxe King room

Deluxe Twin room

 Long-staying guests can avail of the Aum Lifestyle Classes, private and group yoga, tai chi and meditation lessons held at the open cabanas where one can spread yoga mats on the wooden floor and spend the day in deep, soulful meditation.  A steam and sauna room and an outdoor pool with a spacious sundeck have plenty of loungers to allow one to soak in the sun after-treatment while sipping Gingered Oranges, Aum’s signature drink,  a calming and revitalizing drink of ginger ale, fresh organic juice, calamansi and lemon twist.

 After the tour, we headed back to the room, our staccato footsteps echoing in the stone courtyard. I was ushered into the changing rooms and into the spa room where for the next hour or so the trained hands of the therapist transported me to a blissful state of nothingness as I felt my muscles being kneaded and stretched as soft piped-in music filled the air. I chose the Aum Signature massage, a combination stroke massage that applies the right pressure on just the right spots on the shoulder and lower back using lavender-infused virgin coconut oil. After a day of exploring the resort and savoring the delicious food prepared by master chef Stefano Lerillo at the spanking Saffron Restaurant, there was nothing more gratifying than to just lie back and find that inner calm while my body was being restored to health.

 Other signature treatments are the Aum Deep Tissue Massage, ideal for severe or chronic muscle tightness, and the Aum Healing Stone Massage, two hours and 15 minutes of bliss guaranteed to transport one to state of healing and health. One-hour treatments such as the traditional hilot, Thai and Shiatsu massage, foot reflexology, prenatal massage and a Teen Spa are offered to guests.  And if those are not enough, they also have body wraps and scrubs. The spa offers detox and firming body wraps such as Phytomer Seatonic Firming Wrap, the Rhassoul Body Wrap, Dead Sea body wrap and the after-sun cooling body treatment. Body scrubs come with a tantalizing blend of fruit and herbal formulas such as the Spicy Sugar Scrub, Wild Orange Calamondine Body Polish, Tropical Fruit Body Scrub, Jasmine Body Scrub, Coffee Invigorating Body Glow and the Aromatherapy Salt Rubdown.

 Anti-aging facial treatments include the Babor HSR Glamor Lifting Facial with Gold, Tropical Revitalizing Facial (lime and pineapple), and the Phytomer Skin Escape for Men.

 Aum Spa day entrance is at Php1,800 in case you want to indulge in a spa experience for a few hours. However, an overnight stay at one of the resort’s spacious beachfront, oceanfront and private pool villas is an experience one should not miss.  To this I say, “om”, a prayer that someday I might visit the resort again to find myself lost in this tropical paradise.

Crimson Beach Resort and Spa is located at Lapu-Lapu City,  Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines with telephone number (+63 32) 401-9999, fax number (+ 63 32) 401-.9998 and email info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com. Their Metro Manila sales office is at Unit 2202, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V. A. Rufino Street, Makati City, with telephone number (+ 63 2) 728-0005 and fax  number (+ 63 2) 729-0077.

These were my thoughts during an overnight stay at the Antel Spa Suites one busy weekend. The spanking new hotel right across A.Venue Hall, recently accredited by the Best Western chain of hotels, is a haven for those seeking respite from the daily grind of urban living.

Standing beside the busier and well-known A.Venue Suites, its sister hotel, the Antel Spa Suites is a stark contrast with its spacious, minimalist interior. Pocket gardens of bamboo and horsetail set against the cream, textured walls catch the eyes, inviting to survey the length of the warmly-lit interiors punctuated by an asymmetrical chandelier that seemingly undulates as light bounces off its mirror edges, casting prisms of light on the black-and-cream marbled floors and column walls.

The emphasis of course is on relaxation, which can be noticed everywhere—from the tinkling of the mini fountains down to the very attentive and unobtrusive staff which would now and then ask if I needed any assistance with my belongings or with parking. Glassed in from all the noise and din of the outside, I sat on one of the lounge chairs and imbibed the peaceful vibe.

A wonderful feature of the hotel, apart from the well-appointed rooms, is its in-house spa, occupying the entire fourth floor. While the hotel caters to business travelers, being five minutes away from Makati ’s financial district, it also caters to women who want a brief respite and to indulge in a relaxing weekend of spa treatments. The Toccare Spa, an oasis for the tired and weary, is intimate, not so commercialized like many spas around, ensuring guests utmost privacy. Toccare is an Italian word for “touch” or “to touch”.  Here, you can unwind with the help of their signature massages, body wraps, hot stone treatments, body scrubs and facials, all done within themed treatment rooms with names derived from precious minerals such as jade, rose quartz, citrine, black onyx and amethyst. 

After a day of exploring the city, there is nothing more gratifying than wallowing in complete privacy and giving your body some deluxe attention, all carried out by the friendly staff in an atmosphere of Zen-like calm.

After the speedy check-in, I was ushered into what would be my home for the entire weekend, a spacious one-bedroom suite with a kitchenette and dining area, a well-stocked mini ref and mini bar, flat-screen television, private safety deposit box and what most of us cannot live without even for a half a day, uninterrupted WiFi access. Designed with modern Asian touches, the room looked inviting and cozy. All 144 rooms of the hotel are cocoons of comfort with neutrals colors dominating—light wood, crisp white and sandy tones—all in keeping with the hotel’s Zen ambiance. The more affordable, value-for-money studio-type rooms also have the luxuries of the one-bedroom suites while the two-bedroom family suites have the added features of convertible sofa beds and island kitchen countertops, which are great for cookouts and entertaining. Each room in the chic two-bedroom suite has its own bathroom and flat-screen television, perfect for a family on vacation.

Part of the appeal of staying at the Antel Spa Suites is that guests also have access to A.Venue Suites’ amenities such as the spa and lap and kiddie pool. However, if you need some peace and quiet, there is no better place to relax than right at hotel’s sky infinity pool on the 31st floor, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Makati skyline.

It is the sort of place where you can spend your vacation without leaving its confines. Although the hotel’s location offers excellent dining and entertainment options as it sits right smack in Makati ’s throbbing night strip along A.Venue, you don’t even need to venture out at all. The Azzuro, a full service restaurant-bar serving Mediterranean and Western fare at the next-door A.Venue Suites, serves delightful meals within its tastefully designed space. 

“Guests have the option of having breakfast here especially when Antel Spa Suites converts its Breakfast Lounge into a pub, which will open sometime in June,” says hotel manager Yvonne Villacorte.

The Serenity Tower, being built right next to the Antel Spa Suites, is a condotel that will feature a grand ballroom, an infinity pool and resort-style pool, a power gym and themed restaurants located within its premises. Set to open in March 2012, the hotel’s pool will be directly accessible from the sixth floor of the Antel Spa Suites through a walkway bridge.

Later that evening, I ventured out for a little stroll down A.Venue, all lit and throbbing with nightlife, with young urbanites capping the week with a few drinks at the bar. The A.Venue Hall is hosting an event for a well-known credit card company, and traffic was typical on a weekend night—moderate to heavy. I met some friends who were out enjoying dinner at one of the restaurants and after an hour made my way back to the safety and tranquility of my one-bedroom suite.

In a world of endless deadlines and stressful living, it’s really the simple things—such as the promise of a deep and restful sleep, tucked beneath the sheets of a warm, cozy bed—that count the most.

 What then is a galvanic spa and how does it benefit its users? The discovery of the galvanic spa started when a scientist by the name of Luigi Galvani found that when the sciatic nerve of a dead frog is exposed to static electricity it causes the frog’s leg to move. This interaction, which he recreated successfully, led him to believe that there was an important relationship between electricity and animation, or life. Over the next several years, Galvani continued to explore the use of electric currents for health benefits in the body, most notably the skin.

Galvanic treatments use the basic principles that like charges repel each other and opposites attract –similar to magnetic poles. Products are formulated to contain key ingredients which carry a positive and negative charge. The instrument is also set to contain the same charge as the product. The repelling of like charges “pushes” the product into the skin facilitating the delivery of key ingredients. With careful application of positive and negative galvanic currents to the skin, the user is able to perform a variety of beneficial skin treatments.

 Next came the products to use in tandem with the galvanic spa. Nu Skin has been working with Stanford University, Purdue University, and LifeGen Technologies and has discovered what they are calling, “youth gene clusters”. Simply put, it works on the principle that aging starts from the DNA, the building blocks of life, and by targeting the gene clusters that affect the aging process, one is able to bring back life to aging skin and restore it to its youthful state. The result? Beautiful, glowing skin at a fraction of the cost of a surgical procedure, and one that you can do at home.

Anyway, one day I got a call which I thought was a job interview but turned out to be a product demo for Nu Skin. I found out later on that two of my friends have been invited to these “spa parties”. Had I known beforehand what the appointment was about I would have declined since my brother and her gf has been asking me repeatedly to go to Trafalgar Plaza in Makati for a product seminar. This invite is in Ortigas of all places! Imagine my consternation when I found out. But then, you know there’s nothing wrong with earning a living as these Nu Skin people are doing, but I just wished they would just say it’s a product demo rather than beating around the bush and making it look like a job interview when it sure isn’t.

I did try their tinted moisturizer which I liked because I think I may have found the right shade for me. It comes in 2 colors and the darker tone was perfect for my skin. It feels as if I had nothing on. After 30 minutes, my skin looked glowing and photo-ready.

The galvanic spa II system is also one of their banner products since it can be used on the face, scalp and body depending on the cream or gel you are using it with. Together with the lifting cream it can smoothen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, rejuvenate complexion and lift sagging areas of the face and neck. Used twice weekly, it can deliver results in 2-3 months. For the body, glide the unit on the waist and belly or anywhere there’s cellulite to firm up those “spire tires” and “bat wings.”

If you don’t have the galvanic spa system which costs Php 21,000 at retail price (you can buy it at 20% off if you become a downline), try the firming mask. It comes in two separate containers that you mix to form a paste. You apply a thin film on the face and neck and leave it to harden. Rinse it off after 30 minutes and you get brighter, glowing skin. Do this once a week.

If you’re looking for non-invasive procedures to keep skin young and ageless, Nu Skin may just be the right one for you. So far, I’ve heard good reviews from people who have used some of the products. Not the sellers, but some I know who just buy Nu Skin despite the hard sell their affiliate sellers do, which can sometimes turn people off from trying the products or leave a negative impression. As they say, the product speaks for itself.

Nu Skin, founded by Blake Roney, began in 1984 and has built an impressive line of skin care and personal care products, but it also owns and sells products under a couple other brand names. Under their Pharmanex brand they sell dietary supplements. Their Big Planet brand of products consists of Maxvault, an online storage system, and Maxcast, an online video program. As a distributor for the company, you can make a part-time income or a full-time income, depending on your goals and your dedication. You can choose to simply sell the various products for commissions, or you can recruit others to the program and build a downline. When you build a downline of distributors, you earn a percentage of what they sell as well.

To be an independent distributor at Nu Skin, you must commit to purchasing at least a minimum monthly package from the company. This is called your PSV or “personal sales volume”. You can keep the products for personal use or sell them.

It comes in two variants: BB cream #1 gives skin a shimmering effect; #2 looks natural and gives no glow or matte finish. I tried both and although I found both are very lightweight on the skin, I had a problem with the color – it doesn’t match my morena skin even after a few minutes after application, when the cream would have penetrated the skin. So I guess Laneige is perfect for those who have lighter skin tone.

Laneige BB cream, unlike other BB creams, is a multi-functioning BB cream – it has SPF41 ++ and claims whitening, smoothing, makeup base and foundation properties. Although a cream, Laneige made it into a liquid foundation formula that glides on smooth and provides light to medium coverage.#2 gives a no makeup finish while #1 gives a glowy finish.

The reason for this is that the product has fine two-tone hologram pearls that bring out a glowing and crystal-like effect when applied to the skin. The light-reflective particles make the fine lines and pores invisible, and instantly brighten the skin tone. It can be used on your body as well as your face. Can be used as a makeup base too

How to use: Dispense the appropriate amount and evenly spread from the large area of the face. If you re-apply onto the outer cheekbone area, T-zone area, and below the chin, the glow will be maximized to express more beautiful facial contours.

What then is a B.B cream and what’s the hype all the about? BB means Blemish Balm and is made for acne prone skin. Originally from Korea, it prevents breakouts and minimizes pores.  Now you need not wonder why Koreans have wonderful skin. The B.B cream is their secret. I used to wear tinted moisturizers from Laura Mercier but I think I can now switch to BB creams for the time being.

Maybelline’s version is in liquid foundation form packaged in an easy squeeze tube that is small enough to fit in your purse. The thing about B.B creams is that it contains little or no moisturizer so you need to apply moisturizer which really helps you get an even coverage. Maybelline has more than the usual SPF 15 in its BB cream at SPF 26!

Per package description, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals Instant Skin Perfection Cream / B.B. Cream is a perfect blend of 8 mineral ingredients, which comes in an earth color shade that instantly improves and perfects skin.

Some BB creams leave the skin cakey or looking unnatural Maybelline blends well into my natural skin tone. I also like that it does not leave my skin glossy and shimmering as some products do. It also has a brightening and whitening effect on the face and keeps my skin moisturized. Perfect for taking pictures!

Corallina is an algae that grows in the sea, some on freshwater rivers and lakes. They are valued not only for their aesthetic qualities (they are used as ornaments in aquatic tank systems) but more so for their valuable contribution for sea reef formation. In the world of cosmetics, the red algae variety has a valuable use as ingredient for moisturizers, since this unusually mineral rich algae produces a gel-like substance that becomes a moisture-barrier. Some Corallina varities are also known to thrive under extreme conditions such as extreme heat and cold. This condition is prevalent in hydrothermal ocean vents where there is volcanic activity under the sea.

Abyssine is a naturally derived survival molecule in the red Corallina algae. When synthesized, it becomes a potent anti-oxidant ingredient. Along with other ingredients like Apricot kernel oil, which has a very high vitamin E content, Abyssine Cream moisturizes and softens skin while helping retain clarity and suppleness.

I recently tried the Abyssine cream at the Mall of Asia store and was very surprised by how supple my skin had become the moment the cream had started to penetrate my skin. We all know that skin that is dry becomes leathery to the touch and prone to itchiness. It glides on smooth and vanishes into the skin due to its light formulation. With continued use, it helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, as well as protect and soothe skin. The skin aging defense system consists of a cream that has SPF 23, a lotion with SPF 15 for day use, a night serum and an eye cream.